Different volume levels for different strings

[snubby]

I'm a total beginner to bass repairs, although I've been playing for a long time, so bear with me.
I just inherited an old (30+ years) "Harmony" shortscale bass. It's a pretty crappy bass, but it's grown on me, and it's a good size for me (i'm a small female).
However, different strings give me very different volumes. The E is great (a 10 on a scale of 1-10) but the A is more of a 5, the D is a 4, the G is a 3... I played a show with it the other night and it was NOT good.
Is there something I can do about this myself? Is this common on crappy/old basses? Or should I just shell out the money and take it to someone else...

 

[G.Bisson]

First thing I would check is pickup height and string height. They may need adjusting. Free fix.

I assume your aren't still using the 30 year old strings. Put some new strings on it. Cheap fix.

On an old instrument I would be concerned the pickups have corroded, the solder points have corroded, or the windings have broken. Replace pickups and wiring. $$ to fix.

If the instrument was stored poorly or stored in a harsh enviroment the neck may be warped and full of deadspots. Will cost more than the value of the bass itself to fix .

Good luck

 

[96tbird]

corroded solder will not result in different string volumes, all will be reduced the same amount as there is only one wire sending signal. Broken windings will result in intermittent or no signal.

1. make sure strings follow the curve of the fretboard and adjust at bridge as necessary.

2. Since your volume tapers off towards the G, p'up height on the G side is too low likely. move it closer to the string using the screw on that side. If the pup has a mounting ring it will GENERALLY be the screw on the center of the ring. set it so that side of pup is same distance as the E side. Plug it and and listen and fine tune until you are satisfied.

If you still have problems, talk to us. send pics of your bass. any instrument in the right hands can be made a good instrument and vice versa. you probably make that cheapo bass rock!! I kinda dig old cheap basses, the way they look!

 

[snubby]

thanks for your input!
i adjusted the heigh on both the strings and the pick ups, but no luck. as i lower the strings i very quickly end up with the strings hitting the frets at the bottom of the neck, and changing the height of the pickups at the appropriate sides didn't make a noticeable difference. i'm going to take it in to a store tomorrow and get them to give me an appraisal.

i definitely want to work it out though... i agree that the old basses can be nice, both in function and aesthetics. here's a picture in case you're interested: Link Removed

 

[MuzikMan]

How are your amp settings? Do you have the bass knob maxed on it? How do other basses sound through your rig?

 

[96tbird]

Oh I was expecting OLD to be like sixties- seventies!! That's likely 80's 90's LOL. still cool though. Since it's a split coil, it is possible that the lower coil is shot and the top coil is picking up the other strings weakly, from the lower magnet being right beside it.

Possibly the lower coil has a broken/bad connection, not a pooched winding, do you have a dude who might be able to take a look and save you some dough? Maybe look for a fellow TB'er in your town.

 

[walterw]

so it's a P-bass copy; if any pickup design lets you adjust the output of each string, it's the P-bass.

raise or lower each end of each coil (stuff more foam underneath the pickup if it won't come up high enough) until each string is the same volume.

 

[maturanesa]

check each string output in your PC or some software that shows you a volumeter with db, and adjust the pickup/string distance to balance. That will give you a real balance. Dont trust so much in a cab or your percieved volume by ear...